Saving pets in hot cars presents tough choices for animal lovers

Share this:

This undated photo of a poster provided by the L.A. County District Attorney's Office shows a poster reminding pet owners that it's against the law to leave their animals in their vehicles during the dog days of summer. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of pets die each year when left in a closed car on a hot day. (AP Photo/L.A. County District Attorney's Office)

This image made from a Facebook post on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2014 shows a photo and message from the Philadelphia Police Department warning the public not to leave children or pets in a car on a hot day. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of pets die each year when left in a closed car on a hot day. A person has several choices, get the dog out, action that might be illegal, find the owner, a task that may take too long, call 911, a good idea no matter what else you do. (AP Photo/Philadelphia Police Department via Facebook)

Imagine walking to your car after running errands and spotting a dog, panting and helpless, shut inside a hot car. Smashing the window might be your first impulse, but calling police or animal control will protect you from injury and possible lawsuits, experts said.

Hundreds of pets die each year after being left in closed cars on hot days, said Dr. Jules Benson, chief veterinary officer for Petplan pet insurance, citing insurance claims, veterinarian records and other data.

“This just doesn’t need to happen,” Benson said. “Nobody means for it to happen. It is preventable.”

Every minute counts when an animal is inside a hot car, but authorities encourage people to call 9-1-1 instead of breaking in. Those who do cause damage rescuing animals wouldn’t be charged unless there is evidence of criminal intent, though dog owners could choose to sue, prosecutors said.

“California state law allows police and humane and animal-control officers to do what is reasonably necessary to remove an animal from a vehicle if it is in immediate danger,” Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Deborah Knaan said. “The law does not mention civilians.”

Attempting a rescue yourself can also lead to injury, said Bill Johnson, executive director of the National Association of Police Organizations. “You may be trying to help the dog, but the dog doesn’t know who you are. And you don’t want to get yourself hurt,” he said.

States’ anti-cruelty laws are used to prosecute people who endanger their animals. The Animal Legal Defense Fund said 15 states have laws that go further by prohibiting leaving pets in hot cars and giving first responders an extra layer of protection against possible lawsuits.

It takes just 10 minutes for the inside of a car to reach 102 degrees when it’s 85 degrees out, even with the windows cracked, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said. In half an hour, the temperature will soar to 120, which would be lethal within minutes. Because dogs can’t sweat, they can’t control their body temperature in intense heat, leading to extensive organ damage, heatstroke or suffocation.

Brenda Barnette, general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services, said the city has an ongoing campaign to remind the public of the dangers that hot weather presents to pets. “People just don’t realize how dangerous it is to leave dogs in a car — or even to let them walk on very hot pavement,” she said.